Hi Guys,
As I compare data for the units in the EBII with those of the other mods, one thing looks very strange to me.
Namely, the EBII has a very compressed base morale of the units. I mean: there're very little differences accross the roster. Most of the units have between 2 and 6 morale, while the elites something like 7 or 8 (I've also seen 12 once - for Arioi, but Somatophylaces Strategou 7, Hyperaspistai 8 (I've checked it last time in 3.5). In comparison: in other mods the range goes up to 18, and the average units have 10 and the elites 16.
To my mind the effects are:
1. (result of the low morale, not the compression) units may flee earlier (ie. after having taken lower casualities), but then they regroup and come back to the battle (yes, they do, sometimes they regroup even under pressure of a chasing unit);
2. (result of compression) morale bonuses from the general are much more important (Command and Confidence raise the base morale a lot that means the threshold when the units start fleeing is much higher). As a result, a great general is absolutely priceless: my normal generals add between 4 and 7 to morale from various sources, while my experienced FL: +6 Command, +6 CommandWhenAttacking, +6 Morale, +5 Confidence - this sums to a whopping +23);
3. (result of compression, marginal effect) bonuses from the neighbouring units slightly more important (they add +1 to the friendly ones morale (eg. "command"), or take away 1 from the enemy (eg. "frighten cavalry");
--> as a result, in practice there's no serious difference if a unit has a good morale or not - everything hinges upon the general. This means there's little difference between crappy and good units. For the battle gameplay, this limits the tactical possibilities of playing - you don't make choices on the basis of morale as all the units are similar.
So my question is: why the EBII doesnt' use the whole spectrum of possible morale (1-18)?
Or maybe I'm wrong in the analysis?